Stay away from quality 1911s!

[Anomaly]

45 ACP and anything else off the mainstream is a big win to be reloading.

I assumed anyone shooting 45acp in a larger quantity would be reloading, I can't imagine paying 50-60$ for a box of 45 ACP!

 

[Johnn Peterson]

1911 in 9mm is blasphemy. It sounds like none of you guys reload. I load 45acp for about $175/k using drg 225 lead bullets, winchester primers and tite group. I can load 45 cheaper than 9 because I still have a source for cheap large pistol primers. I am paying double for small primers compared to large

Gotta' agree. I like both calibers but in a 1911, for me, it has to be in a 45 ACP. My preference for 9mm is a P35 Browning High Power. I had one with the tangent rear sight and shoulder stock that I foolishly parted with. Have to see if I can correct that error in the not too distant future.

 

[ravenzoom]

Too many here are stuck in the past. If it goes bang, it's cool in my book. Yes, even a 9mm 1911! That said, I do own a 1911 Smith & Wesson pro series (9mm), and it really shoots great.

 

[mmcintyre1220]

1911 in 9mm is blasphemy. It sounds like none of you guys reload. I load 45acp for about $175/k using drg 225 lead bullets, winchester primers and tite group. I can load 45 cheaper than 9 because I still have a source for cheap large pistol primers. I am paying double for small primers compared to large

I started reloading shotgun in 2005. 2006 I got my RPAL and bough a handful of pistols. When I added my 45 1911 to the collection I said enough is enough and got into pistol reloading. I now cast most of my own pistol projectiles and load 45 acp for around $98/k.

 

[Johnn Peterson]

I started reloading shotgun in 2005. 2006 I got my RPAL and bough a handful of pistols. When I added my 45 1911 to the collection I said enough is enough and got into pistol reloading. I now cast most of my own pistol projectiles and load 45 acp for around $98/k.

Going back a few years, I started reloading about the mid to late 60's. This was after a start in handgun shooting and getting into a bit of formal target shooting matches. In turn, reloading rifle ammo came soon after. Some of my early handgun reloading and shooting inquiries were answered in a few regular letters to Elmer Keith. A short few years later, while considering his age, I made arrangements to travel to Salmon Idaho and visit him and did so in '73. My avatar is a photo I took of him, posing beside my truck as I was preparing to head home. I purchased some of his books and had him sign them, and the others I brought with for the same purpose. That day I consider to be the highlight point of my years involved in shooting, reloading and hunting. I did see him on one more occasion about '75 at a banquet after a gun show in Kalispell Montana where he was the guest of honour. He had recently been awarded the 1st Handgunner Of The Year recognition and trophy.

 

[StoneHorse]

Working from memory here...mid 80's I ordered crate of .45 ACP Ball surplus ammo from Century Arms in Montreal. The wooden crate was painted green with yellow lettering and contained 1200 rounds in 50 round boxes. $99.00 and I think the shipping was $10.00 to Vancouver. I had a blast shooting that stuff from a Colt combat commander.

 

[Bittereinder]

.............

 

[Bomber]

I totally agree. I have had more than a few low end 1911's in 9mm. There was always something I didn't like about them. Then I spent the money and got a Bul Armories EDC 1911 in 9mm commander. Best money I have ever spent. Fit and finish are amazing. It has all of the features I wanted. It is smooth as silk and the trigger is fantastic.
If you love 1911's spend the money if you can and get a high end one. Dan Wesson, Bul Armories, Nighthawk, or whatever you want.
So worth it.

 

[Painkillers]

Working from memory here...mid 80's I ordered crate of .45 ACP Ball surplus ammo from Century Arms in Montreal. The wooden crate was painted green with yellow lettering and contained 1200 rounds in 50 round boxes. $99.00 and I think the shipping was $10.00 to Vancouver. I had a blast shooting that stuff from a Colt combat commander.

...and then there were the Norinco days. A Government 1911 all glooped in Chinese snot and stuffed in a plastic bag+ 1000 rounds of Chinese ball ammo (.45 acp) for $300.00Cnd, and it was shipped to your door!

 

[IM_Lugger]

I've been reading 9mm since 2005. Don't want to mess around with cast/lead so plated 9mm bullets are the way to go for me.

 

[Brutus]

Agreed 45 is the preferred power pack for 1911.
However saying that, in any other caliber save 38 Super, I myself don't think it's too far from its spirit to have it in 40 Smith. Providing its double stack and the magazine does not protrude bottom of the grip. Just a bumper pad at the most or ridges your finger could grasp in a pinch.

I know. I'm weird.......lol.

 

[IM_Lugger]

With a 9mm 1911 you can have a single stack mag with a 10round capacity with only a small bumper pad. Winner with our laws.

I think if I wanted more power in a 1911 would go up to 10mm and mypass .45

 

[RL1]

Im with you on this I have a .45 not a 1911 but either way I dont shoot it nearly as much as 9mm mostly due to ammo cost and availabilty. I just recently bought a higher end ($4100) Staccato 2011 in 9mm however and its my favroite hand gun I have ever shot and I feel like John Wick shooting it coming from mostly striker fired Glocks. 2011 grip fits my hand like a glove, and the thing shoots so flat, I haven't wanted to shoot any of my other hand guns since getting it.

I also just ordered a V6 twin turbo Hybrid to replace my V8 pickup truck lol

speaking of John Wick....yes i have always said that a 1911 should be in .45 "as God intended" but i also took the plunge on the JW3 gun in 9MM MAJOR...which ironically is not necessarily cheaper than .45 ACP lol

 

[redryder]

Going back a few years, I started reloading about the mid to late 60's. This was after a start in handgun shooting and getting into a bit of formal target shooting matches. In turn, reloading rifle ammo came soon after. Some of my early handgun reloading and shooting inquiries were answered in a few regular letters to Elmer Keith. A short few years later, while considering his age, I made arrangements to travel to Salmon Idaho and visit him and did so in '73. My avatar is a photo I took of him, posing beside my truck as I was preparing to head home. I purchased some of his books and had him sign them, and the others I brought with for the same purpose. That day I consider to be the highlight point of my years involved in shooting, reloading and hunting. I did see him on one more occasion about '75 at a banquet after a gun show in Kalispell Montana where he was the guest of honour. He had recently been awarded the 1st Handgunner Of The Year recognition and trophy.

A true legend!! Much respect to yourself and of course the incredible Elmer Keith.

 

[Brutus]

A true legend!! Much respect to yourself and of course the incredible Elmer Keith.

Gotta admire a man whom started his shooting career with the iconic original Colt 1851.

 

[kthomas]

My favorite handgun is probably my Dan Wesson Valor 1911.

High quality, and very precise.

 

[caperaway]

I had the oposite problem. I started with a norinco 1911 and shot it all the time. Liked it so much that when a STI 1911 popped up I bought it thinking I would be in heaven. The old Nork still gets shot a lot but the STI stays in the gun room. It just never grew on me like the cheap Nork.

 

[gdawg]

I think the 10mm is a good calibre in the 1911. You can stick to lower power factory ammo or reloads similar in power to 45, but have lots of options for more powerful ammo on occasion. A moot point for us here but seems to be used a lot more for back country in the US.

I like the 38 super too. It is the only cartridge specifically designed for use in the 1911 in believe.

 

[easyrider604]

I've had a bunch of 1911s Norinco, SAM, Taurus , Sig. over the years never kept them too long each one had something I disliked, so they all got sold and I kept on shooting tried and tue guns like glock, cz, beretta 92 that evaded the choppint block and proven themselves worthy of the spot in the safe. Then I got Dan wesson 1911 9mm a little while back and find myself not enjoying other guns as much, which now don't seem that accurate or smooth shooting... I guess I'm a 1911 guy now maybe it's a maturity thing lol but probably others just weren't as good and just didn't do it for me.

9mm 1911? Heresy!!! Not cool! 9mm 1911s were a concession to those who want to look cool...Hey I am kidding IMLugger. Welcome back.

 

[B]

I think the 10mm is a good calibre in the 1911. You can stick to lower power factory ammo or reloads similar in power to 45, but have lots of options for more powerful ammo on occasion. A moot point for us here but seems to be used a lot more for back country

If things had gone just a bit differently the original chambering would have been 10mm, .41 was JMB's original envisioned calibre. US Army wanted .45 minimum so the rest is history.